Lewis Hamilton may be a four-time Singapore Grand Prix champion, but the track holds extra significance for the Briton for all the wrong reasons.
Hamilton crossed the line first in 2009, 2014, 2017 and 2018, with the Mercedes superstar going on to win the world championship in three of those four seasons.
Hamilton has enjoyed plenty of success at the Singapore GP in the pastAFP
In fact, Hamilton has finished below fifth in Singapore only once, excluding the three races he was forced to retire his car early.
The 39-year-old undoubtedly aims to continue maintain that trend on Sunday when the grid returns to Singapore.
However, there will be one incident he certainly will not want to repeat: peeing himself.
To date, Singapore is the only race Hamilton has been forced to break the seal as he opened up on the unfortunate experience in YouTube channel First We Feast’s iconic series Hot Ones.
“We do have a drink tube in the car, but I never drink in the car, I just forget most of the time,” he said.
“So I usually have that weight taken out. It’s only like 500ml.
“But other drivers… most drivers as far as I’m aware pee in the car.
“I’ve drunk a lot before so literally just before I get in the car, I go as many times as possible right at the last minute.
“But I just can’t bring myself to pee myself. I have once, it was Singapore. Oh god, it was like two or three years ago maybe.
“Basically, the safety car came out and I was behind the safety car, I was like, ‘I am dying’.
“And honestly, when your bladder is full with the G-force that you’re pulling, it is the most uncomfortable feeling.
“You just can’t focus on your job so I remember trying to go and I really had to force it. It’s really hard! But luckily I haven’t had to do it, only once.”
Hamilton is not the only driver who has been forced to relieve themselves mid-race.
Hamilton won’t want a repeat of his mid-race bathroom breakGetty
Red Bull’s Sergio Perez and former AlphaTauri driver Nyck de Vries have previously fessed up, while Hamilton has sensationally claimed the legendary Michael Schumacher would pee ‘every single time he was in the car’.
However, many other drivers have stated they simply can’t answer nature’s call during a race and will immediately head to the bathroom once they park their cars.
Drivers do have an option to install an item called a ‘slip-on catheter’, which stores urine, in their car.
But, such is the obsession with keeping the weight of the cars down, no-one on the grid uses them.
Time will tell as to whether Hamilton’s bladder can hold on once more when the lights go out in Singapore at 1pm on Sunday.
